Philip Potempa – Page 7

Director Bill Pullinsi, right, dines in the ballroom of the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana, on Feb. 14, 2026, with son Jamie Pullinsi, left, and columnist Philip Potempa, center. Pullinsi died at age 86 on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Luke Miiller/Center for the Visual and Performing Arts)

From the Farm: Goodbye to stage great Bill Pullinsi, ‘godfather of dinner theater’

May 22, 2026 at 5:52 p.m.

William “Bill” Pullinsi, the celebrated director and producer widely regarded as the “godfather of dinner theater,” died at age 86 on Sunday, May 17, at his home in Dyer with...

The cast of “The Frog Prince and the Princess: A Hoppy Tale" stars in the world stage premiere presented now through May 23, 2026, at Theatre at the Center in Munster (Center for Visual and Performing Arts/provided)

Of Notoriety: ‘Frog Prince and Princess’ premiere comes from imagination

May 20, 2026 at 4:03 p.m.

In the past three years, I’ve had the honor of being able to try the challenge of script writing for theater works designed for young audiences. It’s stage storytelling, and...

Columnist Philip Potempa trades authored books with Eve Plumb during a book signing event on May 8, 2026, at Barbara’s Books at Macy’s on State Street in Chicago. Plumb, who played middle daughter Jan on the CBS series “The Brady Bunch,” published her memoir in April, including stories of working with the late Florence Henderson, her TV mom, who is also featured in Potempa’s 2019 cookbook. (Luke Miiller/provided)

From the Farm: Decade anniversary with Tribune includes ‘Plumb’ nod to ‘The Brady Bunch’

May 15, 2026 at 4:31 p.m.

I marvel that May 8 marked the 10th anniversary of this “From the Farm” column being published in the Post-Tribune.

Dave Innes, left, in frog guise, returns to the Theatre at the Center stage to share the title role opposite Adrianna Alvarez, right, making her stage debut as royalty in the world stage premiere of “The Princess and The Frog Prince: A Hoppy Tale” May 18-23, 2026, at The Center for Visual and Performing in Munster. (CVPA/provided)

Of Notoriety: Frogs, funny guy and ’70s soul in local stage spotlight in May

May 14, 2026 at 4:15 p.m.

Entertainment news from around the region.

A red Yamaha BB300 electric bass, far left, signed in black marker by singer Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, is inscribed “Played at the very 1st Pumpkins show July 9th, 1988,” and included among new memorabilia on display at Hard Rock Northern Indiana to celebrate the facility's fifth anniversary since opening on May 14, 2021. (Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana/provided)

Of Notoriety: Hard Rock Northern Indiana launching 5-year anniversary fun

May 13, 2026 at 3:32 p.m.

How quickly five years can fly by in the world of gaming, paired with iconic headlining entertainment and fine dining, all in homage music.

Workers are shown “harvesting” long strands of spaghetti from faux “spaghetti trees” in Switzerland in staged footage for a BBC news telecast aired in 1957, intended as an April Fool’s hoax. (Archive image courtesy of Ripley’s Believe it or Not!)

From the Farm: As Chef Boyardee knew, spaghetti doesn’t grow on trees

May 8, 2026 at 4:22 p.m.

Anytime I think of spaghetti, I think of a TV segment I watched in my youth on the series “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!”

Claire Marshall, center, is having her touring debut in the lead role of musical murderess Velma Kelly in the national Broadway tour of “Chicago the Musical,” playing in Chicago until May 10, 2026. (Jeremy Daniel/provided)

Of Notoriety: ‘Chicago the Musical’ at half century still fostering local talent

May 6, 2026 at 11:05 a.m.

In all the years I’ve been writing about “Chicago the Musical,” I’ve always known there was something special about this Broadway musical.

Winning finalists of the 2026 Purdue Northwest Intramural Baking Contest Selina Elias, 19, of Munster, left to right, Halie Wolf, 23, of Lafayette, Shelby Robinson, 21, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Ranna Weston, 20, of Hobart, far right, display their winning baked confections with columnist Phil Potempa, center, who served as judge during the May 1, 2026, competition on the Hammond campus. (Luke Miiller/provided)

From the Farm: Green matcha tea the secret ingredient for Purdue’s winning muffin recipe

May 1, 2026 at 5:01 p.m.

Like so many portions, muffin sizes have become monstrous in recent decades compared to muffins my mom served our family.

The Temptations, lined up in back, with the Four Tops front and center, are sharing the stage this weekend, May 2, at Hard Rock Northern Indiana for one concert. (Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana/provided)

Of Notoriety: Tops and Temptations, plays, moms and more this weekend

April 30, 2026 at 9:05 a.m.

Entertainment news from throughout the region.

With 38 rooms and 10 bathrooms, the Barker Estate in downtown Michigan City was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and includes beautifully landscaped courtyards and gardens, and interior furnishings which are 90% original. (Barker Foundation/provided)

Of Notoriety: Restored Barker Mansion ready for Friday reopening

April 29, 2026 at 4:12 p.m.

The historic Barker Mansion will reopen to the public Friday, following three months of closure for refurbishing projects.

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